New Yorkers campaign for jobs

"New Yorkers for Hire" are an unlikely group of jobless

By David Schepp BBC News Online North America business reporter

They have been a fixture on Manhattan street corners for weeks now, greeting fellow New Yorkers hustling to their offices in the morning rush.

Bedecked in their trench coats, business suits and attaché cases, they have prestigious business degrees, worked at Fortune 500 companies, and served as corporate directors and vice-presidents.

Rosevear: The internet is a big part of the strategy

Now, they have taken to the streets of Manhattan, pounding the pavement, handing out leaflets and coaxing sceptical New Yorkers to take a read of who they are and what they have to offer.

They are "New Yorkers for Hire", 43 "highly qualified professionals", victims of the technology-stock rout on Wall Street that rendered their well-paying, white-collar jobs redundant.

Guerrilla marketing

The pamphlets they distribute invite readers to pass the sheets of paper onto hiring managers and to check out the group's web site where everyone's resume has been posted.

"The internet is a huge part of [the strategy]," says Lisa Rosevear, a spokeswoman for the group who is also looking for work.

"We're communicating with a global audience."

These are "guerrilla-marketing tactics", the group's press release says. It is an all-out effort to get their phones ringing with job offers.

Some people are anxious to see what's going on - others think we have cooties

Donna Long, unemployed

One of those keen on finding work is Donna Long, a former information-technology (IT) project manager for Merrill Lynch who has been out of work since November.

On Tuesday morning, she distributes handbills in Times Square amid the deafening clatter of high-rise construction, greeting passers-by with her chant: "Unemployed professionals looking for work."

Ms Long says she gets a mixed reaction by those she approaches.

"Some people are anxious to see what's going on," She says. "Others think we have cooties."

Staying positive

Ms Long is angry about the loss of her job and worried about the current state of the US economy.

Still, despite her near year-long search for employment, Ms Long professes optimism.

"I'm going to get a job," she says with a titter.

Working along side her is fellow jobseeker, Ed Krugman, a former IT executive for Block Drug who lost his job after Block was bought by pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline.

Since being laid off in May 2001, Mr Krugman has had a few consulting assignments but has not had full-time employment.

His resume is posted on the group's web site, www.WeWantWork.com, where, he says, the most responses he has received have been from multi-level marketing positions - "not a real job".

November elections

In addition, he says firms are being much pickier in their hiring practices.

"They are being very focused, and they have a list of 25-30 job requirements, which is very different than it's been in the past."

An old Checker cab helps relay the jobless message

Like Ms Long, he is angry about the lack of response and leadership from Washington.

"There haven't been any initiatives for the people out of work," Mr Krugman said.

He would like to see an increase in unemployment benefits and inducements offered to major companies to start hiring again.

"There are no incentives right now," he says.

Ms Long, Mr Krugman and their friends represent the changing face of joblessness in America - affluent career folk who can usually be counted among conservative ranks who vote for Republicans, including George W Bush.

But with the economy plodding along and consumer confidence shaken, the US president needs to string together some words of comfort for this group of unemployed New Yorkers.

With just two weeks remaining before this year's mid-term elections, Mr Bush will likely be working as hard for their votes as they are searching for jobs.